Recent (as of 11/12/2013) information on Babbletype - nn

I tested with the company and about 2-3 weeks later, received an email from them stating I had done well on their test and was offered employment as an IC.  In order to test for them, I had to install Google Chrome (making for a total of 4 internet browsers now on my computer).  I felt the testing procedure was a bit cumbersome, but managed to muddle my way through it.  However, the test was a piece of cake, when compared to actually working for this company.  You HAVE to use Google Chrome as the browser, you HAVE to install Skype (both of which I was not really familiar with, and I had previously installed Skype and had gotten a nasty virus because of it).

You sent an email with instructions on how to log in (this was basically a linik), once you are logged in, the first thing you see is a HUGE spreadsheet.  You then have to search for your work according to your "contractor number."  There are 3 sets of files for the audio and you search by that according to the job # which is on the spreadsheet, you then arrow over to the link for the "template," where you also had to search through 3 different file folders, depending upon whether it was a single speaker or multiple speakers etc.  Once you get the template, you have to "strip" the instructions out of the template and from that point you could start typing in Google docs.

The second tab on this spreadsheet was their "schedule tab"  You placed the number of audio minutes you wanted each day there.  The BIGGEST PITB was the fact however, that they "assigned the work" to you by 6 p.m. EST, and the work had to be done and back to them by 2 p.m. EST  -- of course sleep was not figured into the equation at all, and you could not have work assigned to you in the morning and work until early evening.  Work was assigned to everyone at the same time and if you were working on a file and it was not completed by 2 p.m. EST, you were basically "locked out of the system."  I had completed a file about 30 minutes before the scheduled due time and all of a sudden, I had to add another contact to my Skype IM contacts.  It was one of the people who assigned work, basically "hounding me about where the file was -- I responded that I had submitted the file and I was told that "it wasn't there," and that I had to go to the spreadsheet to mark it as "complete," so that it could then be sent to QA.  Well, still being new and with their cumbersome way of doing things, it took me a while to find my contractor ID and the appropriate column on the spreadsheet.  I was hounded by this person for about 5 minutes and trying to do what I needed to do.  The breaking point for me was when I was informed that I had done the wrong file!

Thank g*d I had sent my resume in to another company.  I received an email late Satirday evening from the hiring manager asking me if I was still interested in employment and I indicated that I was.  She then sent me a brief questionnaire to fill out, on Sunday evening, which I filled out and returned.  Talked to the recruiter on Monday and was offered a position and I will start Thursday or Friday.  The best thing with this position is it is all straight typing, it is a small company and the owner of the company offers great incentive bonuses, the ICs are recognized at Christmas and on their birthdays and the owner of the company will send out emails and questionnaires basically asking what can be done to make the job easier for the MT.  When the subject of SR was brought up, the answer there was absolutely not.  I was extremely impressed as well with the way this company handles things as far as obtaining new clients and their feedback with their current contracted facilities.  I really am hoping that this will be the last MT service for me, as I have about 4 or so years before I can take early retirement.